Transport

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Local government is responsible for providing and maintaining transport infrastructure at the local level, including pedestrian paths, most bicycle paths and approximately 85 per cent of Victoria’s road network.

Councils also perform statutory planning functions which provide an important link between planning and transport, and advocate for communities’ transport needs to other levels of government.

Many councils take on additional responsibilities, including providing community transport services. The Victorian and Australian Governments are responsible for other transport infrastructure and services, and for developing relevant policy and regulations.

Submissions to government inquiries

We represent and advocate on behalf of councils to Victorian and Australian Government inquiries and policy reviews.

Transport position paper

The Transport Position Paper defines the Victorian local government sector’s vision for transport policy and investment in Victoria, and it identifies a series of council and State Government steps which are necessary to achieve that vision.

The paper includes a discussion of challenges for the state’s transport system, as well as councils’ strategic objectives for transport policy and investment. It also covers:

population growth

freight

climate change

transport disadvantage and social exclusion

health and liveability

peak oil.

The primary audience for the TPP is the Victorian Government. Victoria’s response to its considerable transport challenges will necessarily require a partnership between all levels of government – but must be led by the State Government. Councils want to renew this partnership on the basis of a clear definition of the state’s transport challenges and a pathway forward.

The first edition of the paper was published in 2008. The Transport Position Paper is now published as a living document on the MAV website and will be regularly updated to reflect changing circumstances.

Committees & working groups

We represent local government on a number of transport-related committees and working groups such as: